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The vestibule of the Church of St. Elizabeth of Hungary was decorated with children's drawings for Pope Francis -- many of them depicting him with a Ukrainian flag, praying for peace.

On a bright spring morning, Pope Francis prayed that Christians would experience the joy of Easter and allow Christ's resurrection to be "the light that illumines the darkness and the gloom in which, all too often, our world finds itself enveloped."

Instead of presiding over the nighttime Way of the Cross seated atop a hillside overlooking Rome's Colosseum, Pope Francis followed the service from his Vatican residence, spiritually united in prayer with the 20,000 people gathered outside the ancient amphitheater April 7.

Jesus never abandons anyone; he has come to save, serve and accompany everyone, Pope Francis told young inmates.

The desecrated face of a statue of the crucified Christ in a Jerusalem church should move Catholics around the world "to recognize the pain of so many of our brothers and sisters" in the Holy Land, who have experienced the tragedy of violence and natural disasters, said a top Vatican official.

While promoting dialogue and building relationships with leaders of the European Union contribute to peace, bishops in EU countries also must be prophetic in denouncing war and encouraging all possible efforts to restore peace, Pope Francis said.

Reflecting on people's right to remain in their country of origin, share in the common good and live in dignity will be the focus of Pope Francis' next message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees.

Pope Francis will travel to Hungary April 28-30 where he will meet with government officials, refugees, academic scholars and young people in Budapest, the Vatican announced Feb. 27.

Pope Francis urged all people to be in solidarity with the regions of Turkey and Syria struck by two powerful earthquakes early Feb. 6 and that are "in part already martyred by a long war."

On the feast of Sudan-born St. Josephine Bakhita, Pope Francis prayed for "a future of justice and peace for our brothers and sisters in Africa."